Archive Article: 2002/02/15
Lets all hope judges say Yes to an inquiry
Monday will be a big day for British farming. On that day two judges at Londons High Court will begin hearing evidence in support of calls for a full public inquiry into the origins and handling of the worst foot-and-mouth crisis in living memory.
After hearing arguments for and against the need for a public inquiry, the judges are expected to deliver their decision within four days.
For the sake of British farmers, country business people and all taxpayers, we hope the judges will agree with our campaign, launched last July, Say Yes to a Public Inquiry.
Those who suffered so much, deserve nothing less.
Handley canvasses for your milk vote
Dairy farmers need to get their hands on milk processing to boost returns.
Is Express Dairies the right vehicle? Farmers for Action leader David Handley thinks so. Hes canvassing support for a farmer bid to rival the one that Scandinavian co-op Arla is believed to be putting together.
Expresss potential price tag (£100m plus £200m of debt) is not outlandishly expensive. But it would cost the 20,000 farmers Mr Handley wants to back his plan £15,000 apiece.
Many believe rationalisation is needed in the liquid milk sector to end margin warfare. A take-over by Arla – the UKs fourth largest liquid milk buyer – would trigger that. Could that be the better option? If you wish to support Mr Handley, contact him on 07711 194947.
Leave spreaders in the barn for now
If youre frustrated at not being able to get onto sodden fields for cereal top-dressing, take heart.
After widespread early sowing far fewer crops than usual need early nitrogen to stimulate tillering. Despite recent rains expert opinion is that there is also plenty of nitrogen available in the soil to support well-rooted plants until stem extension.
Too much too soon is a recipe for flat fields at harvest, as growers know to their cost.
The reassuring message from most quarters is that unless crops are struggling, or take-all threatens, the spreader can safely stay in the barn a bit longer.
Irish eyes on how to fill the labour gap
Labour is a scarce resource. Many farms can no longer hire labour and those that can discover staff are reluctant to work on livestock farms.
The generations of youngsters who were eager to learn in lambing sheds have disappeared.
Fortunately ideas to help minimise the problem are forthcoming from across the Irish Sea.
As our Livestock Section explains, fresh thinking from a group of researchers on low labour systems could make a powerful contribution in the years ahead. More ideas please.
EUenlargement plan strikes right balance
The EUs recent enlargement proposals seem a sensible compromise.
Despite political posturing by some EU finance ministers, who say they are too generous, and candidate countries which say they are discriminatory, the plans strike the right balance.
A long transition is essential, to give new members the best chance of adjusting to EU standards. The proposals also respect the EU budget, fixed until 2006, without endangering existing payments to farmers.
But what happens after 2006? The danger is that equality of treatment for farmers will be achieved by cutting existing levels of support faster than increasing subsidies for new members.
That must not be allowed to happen. Enlargement is a political project designed to improve the security of EU citizens. Farmers should not be expected to shoulder the costs.
Could you have Farm Attraction of the Year?
Inviting the public on to your farm can seem a daunting. But many farmers run popular on-farm attractions.
A new competition, Farm Attraction of the Year, aims to find the best of these farm-based visitor attractions around the UK. Its being organised by the National Farm Attractions Network and is open to everyone who runs an attraction. So, look out for entry forms in FW.